OMNIPOTENCE

Omnipotence

The ability to perform any act.

Omniscience

The attribute of being all-knowing, which is attributed to God.

Benevolence

The claim that God wants the good for everyone and everything – literally ‘well wishing’.

Theological issues

The problems and discussions surrounding God’s omni-qualities and their interpretations by various scholars.

Epistemological distance

The gap in understanding between God and humans regarding God's nature and characteristics.

Transcendence

The quality of God of being beyond the physical world and human comprehension.

Boethius's argument

Relates divine foreknowledge and human free will in the context of God's characteristics.

Four-dimensionalist approach

An extension of Boethius's view presented by Anselm regarding divine eternity and action in time.

Aquinas's definition of omnipotence

God's power is in relation to what is logically possible.

Cartesian omnipotence

The idea that God can do anything, even that which is logically impossible.

Paradox of omnipotence

The logical contradictions that arise when discussing the extent of God's power.

Self-imposed limitation

The idea that God may choose to limit his own power for the sake of creation or principles like love.

Anselm

A scholar who contributed to the understanding of God’s attributes and the relationship between divinity and time.

Peter Vardy

A 21st century philosopher who suggests that God limits himself for the love of creation.

Divine power and self-imposed limitation

The concept that God may choose not to exercise his complete power.

Divine knowledge

Refers to God's all-knowing nature and how it relates to temporal existence and free will.

Free will

The ability of humans to make choices independent of divine foreknowledge.

Divine benevolence

God’s attribute of wanting the good for all beings, and how it interacts with justice.

Final judgment

The idea of God judging human actions and how that interacts with the concept of benevolence.

Ultimate dependence

Recognition that the universe relies entirely on God for its existence.

Mackie's position on evil

Critiques the notion of God’s limited power in the context of evil existing in the world.

Kenosis

The doctrine of God 'self-emptying' to form a relationship with humanity.

Process Theodicy

A theological perspective that God does not have total power to coerce but persuades creation.

Coherence of Theism

A work by Swinburne discussing the nature of God's omnipotence and addressing paradoxes.

Augustine's view

Claimed God can only do what is logically possible, not contradictory actions.

Sempiternal

Unchanging, everlasting, existing beyond time.

Atemporal

Existing outside of time; a quality attributed to God.

He cannot lie

Referring to Hebrews 6:18, indicating that God’s inability to lie is not a logical failure.

Divine action

Refers to how God interacts with the world and the implications of his characteristics.

Divine justice

God's fairness in dealing with morality and recompense for human actions.

Divine foreknowledge

God's knowledge of all future events and its implications for free will.

Aquinas vs Descartes

The debate on definitions and interpretations of God's omnipotence.

Swinburne's argument

Supports that self-contradictory ideas are not things; hence they do not challenge God's omnipotence.

Hartshorne's view

Advocates that a God who can overcome resistance is greater than an omnipotent God.

Unsurpassably great

A view that God has more power than any other being but is not omnipotent in totality.

Divine eternity

God’s existence beyond and independent of time.

Ultimate power

The absolute power ascribed to God, challenged by perspectives like Vardy's.

Benevolent God

The notion that God, being all-good and loving, cannot cause evil.

Swinburne's self-limiting God

The idea of God limiting himself for the sake of a loving relationship with creation.

Natural evil

Suffering not caused by human actions, which brings up the problem of evil in theological discussions.

Moral evil

Evil that arises from human choices that contradict God's goodness.

Job 4:17

A passage illustrating the distance between God’s purity and humanity's imperfection.

Job 26:14

A verse showing both God's power and humanity's limited understanding.

Divine attributes

Key characteristics of God including omnipotence, omniscience, and benevolence.

Philosophical discussion

Exploration of ideas related to God's nature, influenced by scholars.

Theism vs Panentheism

Comparison between belief in a transcendent God and one that encompasses all existence.

God's creative power

The ability of God to create and sustain the universe.

Biblical support for omnipotence

Scriptural passages demonstrating God's power, like Genesis 1:3.

Interpretation of omni-qualities

Various scholarly perspectives on understanding God's attributes.

Criticism of total power

The argument against ascribing total power to God and its implications.

Foundation of Process Theodicy

Developed by Whitehead, emphasizes that God's power includes persuasion rather than coercion.

Descartes' controversial claims

Position asserting that God can perform logically impossible actions.

Aquinas' detailed understanding

Argues that God's omnipotence must conform to logical possibility.

Total power implications

How the belief in a totally powerful God interacts with the problem of evil.

Existential questions about God

Addressing deep questions regarding God's nature and attributes.

Swinburne's Condensed Definition

Defines omnipotence as doing everything that is not self-contradictory.

Ancient philosophical influences

The legacy of classical thinkers on contemporary theological discussions.

Divine love and justice

The relationship between God’s loving nature and the justice He applies.

Ineffable nature of God

The idea that God’s qualities exceed human understanding.

Logical implications of divine attributes

The complexities that arise from combining omnipotence with other divine traits.

Scholarly criticisms

Points raised against various views on the nature of God.

Resistant agency

The capability of human beings to resist divine will.

Divine persuasion vs coercion

A key distinction in the understanding of how God interacts with humanity.

Divine foreknowledge and free will

The theological debate about the compatibility of God’s omniscience and human freedom.

Anthropological concepts of God

The human understanding and characteristics attributed to the divine.

Logical contradictions

Conflicting beliefs or statements regarding the nature of God.

God’s communication with humanity

How God reveals himself and engages with human understanding.

Biblical creation narratives

Stories from scripture illustrating the power and nature of God.

Human assertions about God

The limitations of human understanding when discussing divine nature.

The Golden Rule

An ethical principle reflecting God’s benevolence towards humanity.

Function of divine attributes

How the attributes of God function in theology and philosophy.

Christian tradition

The historical context in which theological debates have developed.

Scholarly debate on evil

Ongoing discussions regarding God’s omnipotence and the existence of evil.

Philosophical impact

The influence of philosophical ideas on beliefs about God.

Rationale for divine limits

The reasoning behind proposals that God limits his power.

Interpretation of God's omnibenevolence

The examination of God’s all-good nature and its implications.

Philosophical foundations of God’s attributes

Basic principles that inform understanding of God’s nature.

Dialogue between scholars

Interactions among philosophers and theologians about divine attributes.